Multineedle quilting machine

ABSTRACT

Multineedle quilting machine for performing stitching lines along different paths, having the carriage imparting the transverse movement to the material to be quilted which is constantly arranged within the supporting shoulders of the sewing mechanism during its complete reciprocating stroke. This is achieved by means of a simple gear coupling between the main shaft of the machine and the drawing roller axle. In this way there is provided a shorter carriage which is also of less weight and inertia. The distribution of the reactions is consequently more convenient and the vibrations are eliminated, at least within a reasonable range of speed permitting higher velocities of the quilting operation.

United States Patent Landoni [451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] MULTINEEDLE QUILTING MACHINE [21 Appl. No.: 6,346

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 8, 1969 Italy 12632 N69 [52] US. Cl ..ll2/ll8 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 11/00, D05b 35/00 [58] Field of Search ..1 12/1 17-1 19, 79, 112/12l.12, 121.15, 121.18, 86,90, 102,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 276,657 5/1883 Beck 112/118 X 1,948,876 2/1934 Boettcher ..112/117 2,707,446 5/1955 McCutchen ..l12/79 R 3,511,196 5/1970 Hesz ..112/l18 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Browdy and Neimark 5 7] ABSTRACT Multineedle quilting machine forperforming stitching v lines along different paths, having the carriage imparting the transverse movement to the material to be quilted which is constantly arranged within the supporting shoulders of the sewing mechanism during its complete reciprocating stroke. This is achieved by means of a simple gear coupling between the main shaft of the machine and the drawing roller axle. In this way there is provided a shorter carriage which is also of less weight and inertia. The distribution of the reactions is consequently more convenient and the vibrations are eliminated, at least within a reasonable range of speed permitting higher velocities of the quilting operation.

2 Claims,4 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTEDAUB 1 m2 7 INVENTOR BY M M v ATTORNEYS MULTINEEDLE QUILTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a quilting machine having a new type of transversely movable pulling carriage for supporting the drawing and feeding rollers.

It is known that in quilting machines which are capable of performing stitching lines along different paths, diagonal stitching paths are obtained as a result of the composition of two different basic movements of the material to be quilted, namely a longitudinal and a transverse one. It is known, moreover, that the longitudinal movement is imparted by the pull of the drawing rollers, whereas the transverse movement is imparted by the reciprocating transverse shifts of the carriage on which said rollers are mounted.

So far, the aforesaid carriage was constructed in such a size as to extend in width, during the transversal shifts, beyond the fixed supports of the sewing mechanism, commonly called shoulders.

It is known as well that such construction and arrangement of the carriage in the quilting machine involve considerable drawbacks, among which is an excessive weight and the complicated driving system of the drawing rollers. The main drawback however consists in the irrational distribution of the stresses onto the supports. At a certain speed such stresses tend to cause vibrations which are most harmful to the machine and are further enhanced by the great length of the carriage. As a result, the working rate of the quilting machine has to be reduced for the purpose of avoiding said vibrations, also in view of the considerable inertia due to the excessive weight of the carriage, which involves an increase in production time and production costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A new type of carriage has now been designed and is the subject matter of the present invention, which remains constantly housed within the supporting shoulders of the machine. Said arrangement provides a shorter carriage and therefore results in a less weight and inertia of same, but above all in a more appropriate distribution of the reactions of the carriage so as to eliminate practically all vibrations, even at the highest speeds. The significant advantage deriving therefrom consists in that the quilting machine is able to work at almost the highest speed permitted by its motor means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and characteristics of the carriage for quilting machines according to the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a quilting machine with an internal carriage according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the detail of FIG. 1 consisting of the driving system of one of the drawing rollers;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a quilting machine provided with a conventional carriage extending beyond the supporting shoulders; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a quilting machine provided with an internal carriage according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, there is represented the base 1 of the quilting machine on which two shoulders are mounted constituting the fixed supports of the sewing mechanism (not shown). Between the shoulders 2 is the transversely slidably mounted carriage 4 consisting substantially of two cross members 5 and two longitudinal members 6 connected to each other. Moreover, three rollers 3 are mounted on the carriage 4, of which the lower one designated as 3a and as the first drawing roller is mounted on an axle 7 journalled by the bearings 7a housed in the shoulders 2. The dependent elements 9 of the carriage 4 can be profitably used for moving the rolls of material to be quilted and the rolls of batting material, if any, in order for same to follow the transverse movements of the carriage.

FIG. 2 illustrates more clearly and more in detail the driving mechanism of the drawing roller 3a. The main shaft 12 is connected to a transverse shaft 11 which communicates the motion to a reduction gear 10 whose axle has fixed thereon a gear 8 engaging another gear 8a, which in turn is coupled with the toothed wheel 8b mounted coaxially with the shaft 7. The axle 7 of the roller 3a is provided at the end on its outer surface with longitudinal splines to engage corresponding splines provided on the inner surface of the housing of axle 7 in the gear wheel 8b, although permitting the axial sliding of the shaft 7 in the bearing 7a mounted through the shoulder 2.

The other end of the shaft 7 of the drawing roller 3a is freely slidable in its bearing within the second shoulder 2. Of course, the maximum axial sliding movement of the shaft 7 must be at least equal to the maximum transverse shift of the carriage 4 as provided by the programming devices of the stitching paths. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,778 which shows a device to shift the carriage.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic and partial side view of a quilting machine provided with a conventional carriage extending beyond the supporting shoulders of the sewing mechanism.

In said figure, the reference numbers, which correspond to those appearing in the preceding figures, designate elements which are similar to those already described.

FIG. 3 is intended above all to show the inappropriate distribution of the reactions A and B in the supporting points I and II of the carriage 4 on the base 1 of the machine, as far as staticity is concerned. It can be seen that while the machine is working, the torque applied onto the axle of the drawing roller 3a is supported directly by the carriage 4, so that in order to reach the equilibrium of the system the distribution of the reactions in the supports I and II must be as shown in FIG. 3.

Indeed, the two reactions A and B acting upon the supports of the carriage, schematically represented by the two bearings I and II, must give place to an equal and opposite torque with respect to the one applied onto the axle of the roller 3a. While the machine is working, the rotation of the rollers thus causes a tendency to raise the carriage from the support II and to load it onto the support I. As already said, this is the main reason for the vibrations of the carriage, which are further enhanced by its considerable length. These vibrations are harmful for the machine, since the parts of the latter are submitted to fatigue stress.

In order to avoid said vibrations, it is necessary, as a1- ready said, to limit the working speed below the actual possibilities of the machine, thus increasing the production time and costs.

FIG. 4 shows a view, similar to the preceding one, of a quilting machine equipped with a carriage which remains housed during its movement within the shoulders of the machine, according to the present invention. In this case, the torque applied to the axle of the drawing roller 3a is totally supported by the supporting shoulders 2 of the sewing mechanism, so that the carriage is practically not submitted to any stress. Inthe supports I and II there will be a distribution of the reactions A" and B respectively as shown in the figure, owing to the equilibrium of the force of the weight only. Among other considerations the weight will be reduced as compared with the preceding case, as a result of the shorter length of the carriage. Under these circumstances, both reactions A and B being in the same sense on the two supports, no vibrations are caused while the machine is working, at least not within a reasonable range of speed. Consequently, when adopting the type of construction with the carriage housed within the supporting shoulders, the working rate of the machine can be substantially increased as compared with the tolerable rate in the case of a conventional construction with an external carriage.

It should be kept in mind that the embodiment described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been reported by way of example and that it does not involve any limitation of the presentinvention. It is obvious, moreover, that additions and/or modifications may be contributed to the above described embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.

WhatI claim is:

1. A multineedle quilting machine comprising a drawing roller for feeding fabric longitudinally, means to rotate said drawing roller, carriage means mounting said drawing roller whereby said drawing roller and carriage means can be transversely reciprocated,

a pair of stationary support shoulders, bearing means in said support shoulders, said carriage means being mounted for said transverse reciprocation between said shoulders,

said means to rotate said drawing roller comprising a roller shaft for said drawing roller extending through said carriage means and supported in said bearing means by said shoulders, a main drive shaft, gear means operatively associated with said main drive shaft and having a gear wheel coaxial with said roller shaft, and means mounting said roller shaft axially slidable in said gear wheel and rotatable therewith.

2. A quilting machine in accordance with claim 1 where in said in ans mou tin said roller qhaft axiall slidabe in Sat gear w ee comprises ongitudma spline means on said roller shaft and said gear wheel. 

1. A multineedle quilting machine comprising a drawing roller for feeding fabric longitudinally, means to rotate said drawing roller, carriage means mounting said drawing roller whereby said drawing roller and carriage means can be transversely reciprocated, a pair of stationary support shoulders, bearing means in said support shoulders, said carriage means being mounted for said transverse reciprocation between said shoulders, said means to rotate said drawing roller comprising a roller shaft for said drawing roller extending through said carriage means and supported in said bearing means by said shoulders, a main drive shaft, gear means operatively associated with said main drive shaft and having a gear wheel coaxial with said roller shaft, and means mounting said roller shaft axially slidable in said gear wheel and rotatable therewith.
 2. A quilting machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means mounting said roller shaft axially slidable in said gear wheel comprises longitudinal spline means on said roller shaft and said gear wheel. 